Legge: The sixth line, dynamic, shows its subject disposing of what may be called his bloody wounds, and going to separate himself from his anxious fears. There will be no error. Wilhelm/Baynes: He dissolves his blood. Departing, keeping at a distance, going out, is without blame. Blofeld: Dispersing blood (i.e. fending off injury or violence), he keeps it at a distance -- no blame! [The text of the original is so unclear that the additional commentaries all disagree as to the meaning of dispersing blood, but the general idea is perfectly clear from the commentary on the line.] Liu: Dissolving his (coagulated) blood. Departing to a remote place. No blame. Ritsema/Karcher: Dispersing one's blood. Departing far-away, issuing-forth. Without fault. Shaughnessy: Dispersing his blood, he departs, warily exiting. Cleary (1): Dispersing the blood, going far away, there is no fault. Wu: At the time of dispersion, he disperses what hurts him and alleviates what worries him. No error.

Above 9: Dispersing one's blood. Departing, being far, going away, no fault. Let go of fears, preconceptions, expectations. Give everything the space to be what it is, don't make yourself part of it, changing it to your own size and ideas. Things happen - so let them happen. Fears and rules make them more difficult than they need to be. (Changes to hex.29)

Line-3

Legge: The third line, dynamic, shows one who does not continuously maintain his virtue. There are those who will impute this to him as a disgrace. However firm he may be, there will be ground for regret. Wilhelm/Baynes: He who does not give duration to his character meets with disgrace. Persistent humiliation. Blofeld: He is not consistently virtuous and therefore meets with disgrace. To continue thus would be shameful. Liu: If he does not continue to improve his character, he will be disgraced. Continuing (not to improve) brings humiliation. Ritsema/Karcher: Not preserving one's actualizing-tao. Maybe receiving's embarrassing. Trial: abashment. [Actualize-tao: Ability to follow the course traced by the ongoing process of the cosmos. Linked with acquire, TE: acquiring that which makes a being become what it is meant to be.] Shaughnessy: Not making constant his virtue, he perhaps receives its disgrace; determination is distressful. Cleary (1): If one is not constant in virtue, one may be shamed; even if right, one is humiliated. Cleary (2): Not being constant in virtue may be taken as a disgrace. Even if one is right, one is humiliated. Wu: The subject does not persevere in principle. He may feel humiliated for his support. Even though he does nothing wrong, he will be remorseful.

Line-4

Legge: The fourth line, magnetic, shows one whose action would be in every way advantageous, stirring up the more her temperance. Wilhelm/Baynes: Nothing that would not further modesty in movement. Blofeld: Everything will be propitious for those who cultivate modesty. Liu: To act with modesty is beneficial toward everything. Ritsema/Karcher: Without not Harvesting, demonstrating Humbling. Shaughnessy: There is nothing not beneficial. False modesty. Cleary (1): Beneficial to all, extending humility. Cleary (2): Beneficial to all, the exercise of humility. Wu: Promoting humility is nothing but advantageous.

COMMENTARY

Confucius/Legge: In doing this she does not act contrary to the proper rule. Wilhelm/Baynes: He does not overstep the rule. Blofeld: This involves no departure from what is right. Ritsema/Karcher: Not contradicting by-consequence indeed. Cleary (2): This is the way it is supposed to be. Wu: Because it violates no principle. Legge: Line four is magnetic and in her proper place. She is sure to be successful and prosperous, but being so near the fifth-line ruler she should still use the greatest precaution. The "proper rule” is the rule proper for her in her circumstances so near the place of the ruler.

NOTES AND PARAPHRASES

Siu: The man maintains his modesty in the proper perspective. He does not avoid his responsibilities, abuse the ruler's confidence, or conceal the subordinate's merit. Wing: Once the balance of true Moderation is reached, it must be continually maintained. This does not mean simply maintaining the form of Moderation, but continuing to cultivate equilibrium in your character and a sense of responsibility toward your society. Editor: An unambiguous image of temperate action.

Modesty and humility are not signs of an inferiority complex. They are highly estimable, indeed admirable virtues and not complexes. They prove that their fortunate possessor is not a presumptuous fool but knows his limitations, and will therefore never stumble beyond the bounds of humanity, dazzled and intoxicated by his imagined greatness. Jung -- Depth Psychology and Self-Knowledge

A. Advance the Work through temperate, well-considered action, without exceeding your authority.